Sunday, July 21, 2013

Summer is
finally here! Warm, humid days are upon us and we are just home from our annual
beach vacation to Bethany. You loved the kayak this year! Last year you cried,
but this year you enjoyed the ride. We took the kayaks to a place called
Strawberry Landing, about an hour or so from the house. We stopped and had
snacks, and then paddled home. You were great. You loved looking at the jelly
fish and birds. Your other favorite part of the beach vacation was…. No, not
the ocean, but Funland!

Funland is a
little amusement center in Rehoboth Beach. It’s filled with all sorts of rides
that are just the right size for you. You rode the boats. The little airplanes
(which Mason also loves). The two of you went round and round in the planes
holding the guns and making little “pew-pew” sounds. You also loved the fast
cars this year. We went on them together and you even held your hands up in the
air when we went really fast. A boy after my own heart for sure. Maybe we’ll
try a roller coaster next year!!

In May and June
we took a mommy and me class called Zumbini. My Zumba instructor taught the
class and it was tons of fun. It was nice to do something special just the two
of us together while Mason was at school. We danced and sang songs. You loved
the train song – of course. You also enjoyed playing with the instruments.
Abigail Pepper, your partner in all things was in the class as well.

Just about every
week we make a visit to Abigail’s house, or she comes to our house. She brings
her baby brother, Henry and her mama with her. You love to visit her house so
you can sit at her kitchen table and eat her special gluten free pretzels. I
just mention that we are going to her house and you say, “I go Abba’s and eat
pretzel in kitchen.” Adorable you are!

We’ve also been
camping three times since spring. Once we went with the Cub Scouts on the
Spring Family Camp-out. This year we went to Camp Snyder. We had a great time
during the day, but oh boy was it super cold at night. It dipped down to just
below 40 degrees and we were freezing. We brought hats and layers to wear thank
goodness. You cried every night and ended up sleeping with me inside my
sleeping bag which helped us both stay warm.

Our second
camping trip was over Memorial Weekend. We went to Bear Creek Lake with our
friends the Faists. You had a great time playing with their kids: Jerry, Katie,
Caroline and Charlie. We had a fiasco for dinner on Friday night because of all
the rain the days before we got there, but we rallied and everyone enjoyed a
bowl of Cheerios for dinner. That’s just the way you roll sometimes when
camping.

The third
camping trip was the Saint Matthew’s Family Campout at Mathew’s Arm in
Shenandoah. Nana came with us this time as well as the Buckingham’s and Emch’s.
What a fun weekend. The weather was about the best we have ever had for
camping. 80 during the day and 65 at night. Everyone slept well and we took a
nice hike during the day. You didn’t want to walk much so thank goodness dad
was along to carry you. If you are wondering what this is like I suggest you
try carrying 37 pounds on your shoulders for a two mile walk. A wiggling,
giggling, leaning, sometimes complaining 37 pounds mind you.

You are still
funny about food. You will drink the green smoothies I make for breakfast and
you love the carrot pineapple salad I make, but other than that you pretty much
won’t eat any veggies. Most nights you still don’t eat any dinner. I just tell
myself that you’ll eat when you are hungry. Sometimes Grandma will get you to
eat some dinner or veggies. Maybe she bribes you with trains or puzzles….

Speaking of
puzzles and trains – they are your favorite toys. I’m amazed at how good you
are at putting puzzles together. You have a big Thomas puzzle and a farm puzzle
that you can put together all by yourself. It’s so cool.

Over the past
few months, your vocabulary has truly blossomed. Gone is our little two year
who only had 25 words or so. You are speaking in sentences. You are signing the
ABC’s. Of course your brother loves to teach you alternate words and you
currently love to sing, “Now I know my A, B, Poop. Next time won’t you poop
with me.” Ugh – if only you’d actually poop on command on the toilet. I wouldn’t
care what you sing. I try not to laugh so you don’t think I’m encouraging you,
but it is darn funny.

Speaking of
funny things, at the beach Mason got a whoopie cushion. The two of you loved
that thing until it popped. You still run around saying, “Who farted?” It
drives Nana nuts, but dad and Mason and I think it’s funny.

Tonight when I
put you to bed I was reminded of just how sweet and adorable you are. After
reading books (Bus Stop, Bus Go and Firebears) we turned off the light and
turned on your CD player to listen to the Justin Roberts lullabys. We said
prayers and you asked for a bedtime story with Campbell, Abba and Betsy at
Funland. We told a fun story of the four of you riding rides and eating ice
cream. I put you in your crib and laid on the floor for a few minutes. My
favorite part is when you stuck your little hand out of the crib bars and said,
“Hold hand, mama.” It’s a totally awkward angle and my arm always falls asleep
but I just can’t stop. I love holding your sweet little hand while you fall
asleep.

Good night my
sweet boy. May you have sweet dreams and a fun day tomorrow.

Summer is
finally here! Warm, humid days are upon us and we are just home from our annual
beach vacation to Bethany. You loved the kayak this year! Last year you cried,
but this year you enjoyed the ride. We took the kayaks to a place called
Strawberry Landing, about an hour or so from the house. We stopped and had
snacks, and then paddled home. You were great. You loved looking at the jelly
fish and birds. Your other favorite part of the beach vacation was…. No, not
the ocean, but Funland!

Funland is a
little amusement center in Rehoboth Beach. It’s filled with all sorts of rides
that are just the right size for you. You rode the boats. The little airplanes
(which Mason also loves). The two of you went round and round in the planes
holding the guns and making little “pew-pew” sounds. You also loved the fast
cars this year. We went on them together and you even held your hands up in the
air when we went really fast. A boy after my own heart for sure. Maybe we’ll
try a roller coaster next year!!

In May and June
we took a mommy and me class called Zumbini. My Zumba instructor taught the
class and it was tons of fun. It was nice to do something special just the two
of us together while Mason was at school. We danced and sang songs. You loved
the train song – of course. You also enjoyed playing with the instruments.
Abigail Pepper, your partner in all things was in the class as well.

Just about every
week we make a visit to Abigail’s house, or she comes to our house. She brings
her baby brother, Henry and her mama with her. You love to visit her house so
you can sit at her kitchen table and eat her special gluten free pretzels. I
just mention that we are going to her house and you say, “I go Abba’s and eat
pretzel in kitchen.” Adorable you are!

We’ve also been
camping three times since spring. Once we went with the Cub Scouts on the
Spring Family Camp-out. This year we went to Camp Snyder. We had a great time
during the day, but oh boy was it super cold at night. It dipped down to just
below 40 degrees and we were freezing. We brought hats and layers to wear thank
goodness. You cried every night and ended up sleeping with me inside my
sleeping bag which helped us both stay warm.

Our second
camping trip was over Memorial Weekend. We went to Bear Creek Lake with our
friends the Faists. You had a great time playing with their kids: Jerry, Katie,
Caroline and Charlie. We had a fiasco for dinner on Friday night because of all
the rain the days before we got there, but we rallied and everyone enjoyed a
bowl of Cheerios for dinner. That’s just the way you roll sometimes when
camping.

The third
camping trip was the Saint Matthew’s Family Campout at Mathew’s Arm in
Shenandoah. Nana came with us this time as well as the Buckingham’s and Emch’s.
What a fun weekend. The weather was about the best we have ever had for
camping. 80 during the day and 65 at night. Everyone slept well and we took a
nice hike during the day. You didn’t want to walk much so thank goodness dad
was along to carry you. If you are wondering what this is like I suggest you
try carrying 37 pounds on your shoulders for a two mile walk. A wiggling,
giggling, leaning, sometimes complaining 37 pounds mind you.

You are still
funny about food. You will drink the green smoothies I make for breakfast and
you love the carrot pineapple salad I make, but other than that you pretty much
won’t eat any veggies. Most nights you still don’t eat any dinner. I just tell
myself that you’ll eat when you are hungry. Sometimes Grandma will get you to
eat some dinner or veggies. Maybe she bribes you with trains or puzzles….

Speaking of
puzzles and trains – they are your favorite toys. I’m amazed at how good you
are at putting puzzles together. You have a big Thomas puzzle and a farm puzzle
that you can put together all by yourself. It’s so cool.

Over the past
few months, your vocabulary has truly blossomed. Gone is our little two year
who only had 25 words or so. You are speaking in sentences. You are signing the
ABC’s. Of course your brother loves to teach you alternate words and you
currently love to sing, “Now I know my A, B, Poop. Next time won’t you poop
with me.” Ugh – if only you’d actually poop on command on the toilet. I wouldn’t
care what you sing. I try not to laugh so you don’t think I’m encouraging you,
but it is darn funny.

Speaking of
funny things, at the beach Mason got a whoopie cushion. The two of you loved
that thing until it popped. You still run around saying, “Who farted?” It
drives Nana nuts, but dad and Mason and I think it’s funny.

Tonight when I
put you to bed I was reminded of just how sweet and adorable you are. After
reading books (Bus Stop, Bus Go and Firebears) we turned off the light and
turned on your CD player to listen to the Justin Roberts lullabys. We said
prayers and you asked for a bedtime story with Campbell, Abba and Betsy at
Funland. We told a fun story of the four of you riding rides and eating ice
cream. I put you in your crib and laid on the floor for a few minutes. My
favorite part is when you stuck your little hand out of the crib bars and said,
“Hold hand, mama.” It’s a totally awkward angle and my arm always falls asleep
but I just can’t stop. I love holding your sweet little hand while you fall
asleep.

Good night my
sweet boy. May you have sweet dreams and a fun day tomorrow.